Talk:John Colter

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Contents 1 Importance 2 Date of death 3 War of 1812 4 Death Date 5 Legends

[edit] Importance

Since John colter, like most of the men in the party, has no historical importance outside the expedition, wouldn't it make better sense to encapsulate notes like these in the list already at Lewis and Clark expedition, rather than scattering them like this? --Wetman 20:56, 17 Nov 2004 (UTC)

[edit] Date of death

Is it 7 May 1812 (intro para) or November 1813 (bottom of page)? JackofOz 13:04, 9 October 2006 (UTC)

Check the Find a Grave link in the references. The stone shows May 7, 1812. --Gadget850 ( Ed) 13:14, 9 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] War of 1812

The War of 1812 started in June. If Colter died in May, he could not have fought in the war. --Gadget850 ( Ed) 02:23, 8 May 2007 (UTC)

I updated the info...his exact date of death appears to be inconclusive.--MONGO 05:20, 8 May 2007 (UTC)

I've been looking in the local libraries here, but there is nothing of note that isn't already in the article. There is one book in the locked case I have not checked yet. You would think we would have more on one of our famous sons... we don't even have anything named after him in Stuarts Draft. --Gadget850 ( Ed) 12:41, 8 May 2007 (UTC)

I thought there is a statue or plaque in Stuarts Draft that denotes him. No doubt, he has been overlooked a great deal.--MONGO 16:23, 8 May 2007 (UTC)

Just the plaque by the intersection. It's not even one of the official state historical plaques, so it isn't on the registry. It got moved about 4 or 5 miles from his birthplace. I was thinking about a photo, but it really isn't very interesting; from an informal survey, I can't find anyone who has ever noticed it. It does show his death as 1813. --Gadget850 ( Ed) 16:41, 8 May 2007 (UTC)

I wonder if the Augusta County Historical Society would have any ideas...maybe an effort by them to better designate the birthplace of Colter can be made.[1] The fact that he apparently moved away to Kentucky at an early age may make him a sort of "lost son". Isn't there a statue to "Mad" Anthony Wayne in Waynesboro? Seems Colter would deserve as much as a better designation at least. There are a number of things named after him in NW Wyoming...Colter Peak in Yellowstone National Park is 10,684 feet. It's in the Absaroka Range, and relatively prominent, but not nearly the tallest in the region.[2], [3]...Colter's Hell is on the National Register of Historic Places [4]...seems his gravesite is relatively obscure as though.--MONGO 17:18, 8 May 2007 (UTC)

Colter Bay on Jackson Lake in Grand Teton National Park is named after him...it has a marina, large campground, lodging and restaurants. etc.[5]--MONGO 17:24, 8 May 2007 (UTC)

As far as the people in Northwest Wyoming is concerned, he is the explorer - venerated in much the same way that Welsley Powell is in southern Wyoming and Utah - there were other explorers, but Colter is the only one anybody remembers. This [6] is my favorite history of the Jackson Hole area, it spends a lot of time dealing with Colter and his legacy. - CosmicPenguin (Talk) 20:02, 8 May 2007 (UTC)

That is the way I pretty much remember it from when I lived there. I should get a copy of that book. Thanks.--MONGO 21:39, 8 May 2007 (UTC)

I don't recall any statues of Wayne here. As far as I know he never came through town. --Gadget850 ( Ed) 17:36, 8 May 2007 (UTC)

I guess they just named the town after him...least, that appears to be case.--MONGO 18:01, 8 May 2007 (UTC)

Yes, there are a number of Waynesboros. I think we have a new restaurant called Mad Anthony's (the second of that name to my recollection). --Gadget850 ( Ed) 18:17, 8 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Death Date

As is listed in the article, there are sources for both death dates. I don't think we know enough to definatively state one or the other. CosmicPenguin (Talk) 04:31, 29 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Legends

I moved these from the main page. These are both stories heavily steeped in legend, and really should be accompanied by the appropriate level of sourcing. We certainly can't take them at face value. The second story is famous, if nothing else, I'll try to track down some reliable sources discussing the legend. CosmicPenguin (Talk) 19:38, 8 February 2008 (UTC)

it was proved that john colter was the only man in history to fight a grizily bear without a gun and survive. while with a party, they encountered a large grizily bear. he charged towards it brandishing a knife, confusing the bear (as its prey would usualy run) and killed it. needless to say he was badly injured, but pulled through. another of his amazing encounter was with a hunter named John Potts, who did not survice the encounter. they where traveling the blackfoot tribes land but where captured. john pottes did not survive, and was killed soon into the capture. john had in recent times of his life spent time living with native american tribes, and so knew some of their behaviour and launguage. the blackfoots having heard of his legacy (and also knowing he was was a sprinter) stripped hik of his cloths, weopons and supplies and gave him a headstart.after sprinting 200 meters, the warriors chased him, very closley on his back. losing most of them, one was left, the fastest who constantly neared him. john stopped, and the warrior smacked right into him. hastily john picked up his hatchet (that or used his fist) and killed the tribesman. several days later he was found near death on the outskirts of the desert, and again made a full recovery.

You got there before me. The Blackfoot encounter is already in the article, stripped of most of the anecdotal material. --— Gadget850 (Ed) ^talk - 19:55, 8 February 2008 (UTC)